Monterrey Man Arrested for Illegally Killing Black Bear

A Monterrey man turned himself into the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 18 for allegedly illegally killing a Louisiana Black Bear.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents got an arrest warrant for Duell Moreland, 23, on Nov. 14 for his alleged role in the illegal killing of a black bear.

Agents began the investigation after receiving a mortality signal from a radio collared black bear that was a part of LDWF’s Black Bear Program. A mortality signal is sent after a certain amount of inactivity.

Upon arriving to the scene of the radio collar off of Pete Davis Road in Wildsville in Concordia Parish, agents found the collar and a burn pile next to the collar containing bear parts. Agents also noticed an abandoned broke down pickup truck on the property that they later found belonged to Moreland.

Agents interviewed the two leaseholders of the property whom both disclosed that Moreland was the person responsible for the illegal killing of the black bear. Agents seized a rifle and crossbow from Moreland’s truck and a knife from the scene.

If he is found guilty, Moreland faces a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. He could also be subjected to a civil restitution fee up to $10,000 for the replacement value of the bear. The investigation is still ongoing.

Agents assisting in the case are Senior Agent Joey Merrill and US Fish and Wildlife Agents Mark Cupit and John Tarver.